Australian Federal Election - Voting Information

An Australian Federal Election has been called for Saturday 21 August 2010.  The Australian Consulate-General in Los Angeles will operate a polling centre from 16-20 August. Those wishing to vote in person will be able to do so at the Consulate-General, 2029 Century Park East, Suite 3150 (31st floor), Los Angeles 90067.

The Consulate will be open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday 16 August to Friday 20 August. The cut-off for voting at the Consulate will be 5pm local time on Friday, 20 August 2010. Please note there will be no voting at the Consulate on Saturday 21 August.
Those wishing to lodge a postal vote can call the Consulate on 310 229 2331 and obtain the required forms for completion and return by post.

To vote you must already be enrolled on the Australian electoral roll. Check if you are enrolled. If you are already enrolled to vote, but need to update your address details on the electoral roll you must update your details and return your form to the Australian Electoral Commission by 8pm (local time) Thursday 22 July 2010.

If you are not enrolled to vote it is now too late to enrol to vote in the 2010 federal election. However you can still enrol to vote in future elections by completing an enrolment form.
Additional information may be obtained from the Australian Electoral Commission's website www.aec.gov.au.

Robert Scharar Turns Focus to Australia's "Golden Age" on CNBC

AACC member and Fund Manager of the Commonwealth Australia/New Zealand Fund (CNZLX), Robert Scharar, made a recent guest appearance on the internationally acclaimed CNBC’s “Street Signs” in July. As Fund Manager of the only U.S. fund to focus exclusively on the lower Pacific Rim, Scharar was tapped to discuss recent predictions by the Secretary of Treasury, Ken Henry, that Australia is headed for a “Golden Age” and an “unprecedented time of prosperity”.

Increasing demand from Asia is fueling an investment boom in Australia’s resources industries that is forecast by the central bank to last more than a decade. Australia’s mineral wealth and proximity to China are stroking and economic expansion forecast to almost double in the next two years. “It has been one of the most stable and productive periods of Australia’s modern history, which places Australia in the top echelon of developed countries in terms of sustained rates of growth. Things are definitely looking up down under”, states Scharar.

Click here to see Robert Scharar on CNBC

For more information go to www.commonwealthfunds.com or call Robert Scharar at 713.781.2856.

AmCham Trade Mission:
Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition

Building on the success and experience gained in organizing 11 trade missions to the Offshore Technology Conference Houston, AmCham is organizing a fully escorted all inclusive Trade Mission to Stavanger Norway (ONS) August 24th through the 27th. Delegates will have unequaled networking opportunities at:

• Energy Industry Expositions
• ONS Conference
• Festival
• Meetings and Presentations

Click to view the invitation

For more information on ONS 2010 please contact:
Penelope Williamson at penelopewilliamson@amcham.com.au or 08 9325 9540
The American Chamber of Commerce in Australia
Level 6, 231 Adelaide Terrace, Perth 6000
www.amcham.com.au

The Australian Department of Immigration & Citizenship is introducing several important corporate immigration changes effective July 1, 2010. Click for more information

Australia is in Group D for the first round of games. The 1st match is Sunday, June 13th at 1:30 pm vs. Germany on ABC, 2nd match is Saturday, June 19th at 9:00 am vs. Ghana on ESPN, and the 3rd match is Wednesday, June 23rd at 1:30 pm vs. Serbia on ESPN2.

Most sports bars like Firkin & Phoenix, Lucky’s, and Pub Fiction will be showing the different World Cup matches.  Firkin & Phoenix Pub, 1915 Westheimer, has 8 LCD TVs and will be showing the Australia vs. Germany game this Sunday and they have extended their business hours to 8:30 am – 2:00 am during the World Cup.

A few helpful links for the upcoming World Cup season:
World Cup - Australia Home Page
2010 World Cup Homepage
World Cup Schedule

Citing an independent cost of service study’s findings that the U.S. Government is not fully covering its costs for the processing of visas, the Department of State has announced its intention to increase visa fees. The rule, which will go into effect on June 4, 2010, would increase fees for certain non-petition-based non-immigrant visas and some Border Crossing Cards.  Click for full article

Click Here for a copy of Hon Colin Barnett MLA, Premier of Western Australia's speech from the Energy Forum at the James Baker III Institute for Public Policy.

Jan Wheeler, Executive Director of Project Joy and Hope, has another reason to be thankful for her "Australia" connection. Her father recently underwent a triple by-pass performed by a former Star of Australia Dr. Gerald Lawrie.
After the procedure was over, the two talked about the AACC and Project Joy and Hope connection. Dr. Lawrie still raves and is honored to have been recognized as a Star of Australia.
"He is amazing, compassionate, caring, and so so skilled. It was not a simple procedure, and he walked us through it with expertise and grace.He is a hero to me and my family, and Houston and Australia share such a wonderful surgeon...I believe it was no coincidence that our paths crossed in this way."